Air conditioning unit



Oct. 27, 1936. K. P. BRACE 5 AIR.CONDITIONING UNIT Fiied-oct. 24, 1932 3Sheets-Sheet? Oc't. 27, 1936. 'K. P. BRACE 2,058,405

' 'AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Filed Oct. 24, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3FIII'IIIIIIIIII Wm WW.

ll ll lll l INVENTOR-' MMMB 0W0 I nonuzv- Patented Oct. 27, 1936 Q I v vv UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE OW AIR CONDITIONING UNI'r o Kemper lennBrace, New York, N. Y. i 7 a; Application October 24, 1932, Serial No.689,188 I 9 Claims. (01. 62-129) 1 a This inventionrelates in general toair condiactually being conditioned. Because of such artioning and inparticular to the conditioning, durrangement these units are subject tosome very ing the summer season, of enclosures of limited seriousobjections. For instanceirin the case of size such as rooms ofdwellings; ofllce rooms, small the units which contain the refrigerationapparahalls and the like. tus as a part thereof the noises emitted bythe Air conditioning systems for buildings which refrigeration apparatusare enough to prohibit house a plurality of separate enclosures such astheir use in rooms such as omces; conference office rooms, dwellingrooms and the like have rooms, and 'the like, whereaminimum 1 di t tbeenproposed. These systems usually include a ing noises is permitted. Thissame typevof unit is central air conditioning unit from whichcondisubject to the further objection that it must 10 tioned air is ledto the separate rooms by means include some means for removing from thereof suitable duct work. By reason of the duct work frigeratlonapparatus at; least as much heat as r quir d, th s yst a p a ti a lylimited the unit removes from the eonditioning air. .Suoh to newbuildings designed to accommodate them means of course increases theinitial as well as as th n a y remodelling of existing buildings theoperating cost of the unit. If the means just is excessive and its .costprohibitive, also, after mentioned for any reason does not functionpropthese systems are installed theycannot be readily efly-not only winthe load in the refrigeration modified as may be required by chan ed sof apparatus be increased'but the conditioning of som or ll of th r mFurthermore. control the enclosure will not take place as desired.

0 of conditions at the individual rooms with these B th types f unitsbecause of the arrangement systems is extremely limited and the wholebulldof the refrigeration apparatus mentioned above ing is maintained atSubstantially t same 0011- are subject to the objection self evidentfrom the t following:

Because Of these n other drawbacks f Assuming that the enclosures are tobe condisyst ms ju t referred o a n p p s d t tloned for eight hours perday which is a reasonprovide individual air conditioning units for eachable axi um for the typeen'closures heretofore .room, h r y m kin it Pbl to on ti n mentioned, that at maximum summer-weather each oom asdesired y the Oc p nts t e eo for the locality in which the units areinstalled T it -p either employ a water spra the out door air has adrybulb of 95 E, a wet as the cooling and dehumidification medium or b lbof 76 F, and a dew .point of 69 F., and produce the cooling anddehumidification result that th enclosure during such maximum weather bycontacting the conditioning air with the sur- .15 t b maintained at adry-bulb or 80 F., a wet face of coils thru which is passed arefrigerant b b f 6 11 d a dew point, 1. 0" A tudy or a cooled heatexchange medium. In some of of the weather records for a large number.of the uni s the Water. 1% r i nt, or heat exlocalities shows that forany locality if the maxi- 5 change m i as he case y i cooled by mum drybulb temperature during the day is-95 means of r fri ati app u includedin F. the hourly temperature readings for the rest the unit; in theother of the units the water, or of the day are approximately asfollows:

refrigerant, or heat exchange medium is cooled at centrally locatedrefrigeration apparatus which Dmmnee V, 40 supplies all of the units inthe building. For this i Outside dry- $323 reason it is necessary toemploy piping in the 1 Time bulb gamed desired installation of the lastmentioned type of unit. maid: t s:

Since it is almost invariably necessary to dehumidifyaswell as to coolconditioning air during the a summer season it is necessaryto providepiping for flf g: g: g the disposal of the water condensed with both11-12111 m: 90 r. 10: r. types of units. The necessity of. the pipingboth in- {25 33- 1 I g: 12., 1: creases the cost of the units andreduces the 2-3 m 95 F. 16:1. flexibility of the system employing them.33 3 g: g: :3.

All of the units that I am aware of sufflciently I u a practical to bein use in actual installations are F so arranged that the refrigerationapparatus, I whether located in the unit or at a remote place, From theabove it is evident that the refrigeraoperates only during the time theenclosure is tion apparatus associated with either type of unit unitsoperate at their best efficiency for only one quarter of the time. Thusthe operating cost of these units is necessarily excessive when it isconsidered that it is possible, as I will explain hereinafter in thedisclosure of my invention, to

accumulate by means of a suitable medium the effect of the refrigerationapparatus. The ex- .cessive capacity and consequently the excessiveinitial cost of the refrigeration apparatus of the units mentioned isobvious. Thus by accumulating the refrigeration effect and operating therefrigeration apparatus at rated load for" the full eight hour periodrefrigeration apparatus capable of maintaining a 10.6 F. difierencebetween the outside and the conditioned space would be sufficient in theexample assumed. However, there is no reason why the operation of therefrigera tion apparatus should be confined to the eight hourconditioning period; in installations where noise is not objected to therefrigeration apparatus can be operated for twenty-four hours; ininstallations where noise is objected to the refrigeration apparatus canbe operated for the sixteen hours that the enclosure is not beingoccupied. Hence it is obvious that the refrigeration apparatus of thepresent units are from 1.4 times to 435 times the capacity required.Since the refrigeration apparatus cost is the major proportion of thecost of the units, the excessive cost of the present day units isobvious.

In accordance with my invention I provide a portable self-contained airconditioning unit. That is to say, a unit which contains within itselfall the elements necessary for coolingand conditioning the enclosure inwhich it is located,'for disposing of the water condensed duringdehumidification of the air in the enclosure, and for dissipation of theheat generated by the refrigeration apparatus, which unit requires onlya connection to the ordinary current line, as dis tinguished from apower line, and can be completely installed and put in operation withoutthe need of any piping or duct work whatsoever. The refrigerationapparatus housed in the unit is of such capacity that during the allowedoperating time, i. e.-, twenty-four hours per day. Where the noise ofthe refrigeration apparatus is not objected to and twenty-four hours perday minus the time of occupation of the enclosure, where the noise isobjected to, it is able to do the quantum of work necessary to condition4 the enclosure during a day of maximum weather.

exchange medium the refrigeration apparatus is automatically shut downwhenever the heat exchange medium has stored therein the refrigerationeffect necessary to condition the enclosure during said day of maximumweather. By this arrangement the refrigeration apparatus operates onlyasrequired to maintain the stored refrigeration effect at the maximum atthe beginning of each occupation period of the enclosure.

Various heat exchange mediums may be used, such mediums may be liquids,gases, solids or solutions. However, in order to maintain the quantityof heat exchange medium to a mimmum, and thus keep down the size oftheunit, I prefer to use a medium which undergoes a change of phase and/orstate at areduced temperature. Because of its low cost and availabilityand of its comparatively high storing capacity I have found that waterfills all the requirements of an ideal heat exchange medium for mypurpose.

. In order to dissipate the heat abstracted from the various motorsused, conduit means are provided for leading air from the outside intoheat exchange relation with the compressor and condenser of therefrigeration apparatus and the various motors used and from thence backto the outside. In order to avoid the necessity of connecting conduits,the inlet and outlet of said conduit means are arranged to flt into thebottom of the window opening adjacent to which the units are generallylocated. Such inlet and outlet may be attached to an adjustable barrierso that the heat abstracted may be prevented from getting into theenclosuresimply by bringing the ,bottom of the window into contact withthe barrier. The water condensed during the dehumid- .the heat exchangemedium and generated by ification of the conditioning air is disposedofby spraying it into contact with the condenser of the refrigerator. Thisresults in complete evaporation of the condensed moisture'therebyeliminating the necessity of any drain connection, and also increasesthe efficiency of the refrigeration apparatus by causing the liquidrefrigerant to be condensed at a lower temperature and pressure.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be readily apparentfrom a consideration of the preferred embodiments thereof illustratedinthe accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of theconditioning unit as installed in an enclosure;

Fig. 2 is a part sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a part sectional end line H of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a part sectional plan .view taken on line l-Jof Fig. 2; and gFig. 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 2, of another preferred embodiment.

The unit I0, as shown, may be conveniently located below a window ll ofthe enclosure I! to be conditioned, the motor elements of unit It laterto be described, being connected to the ordinary house current line bymeans of a cable II and a plug l4 and a settable motor controlthermostat l5 being connected by a cable I6. which includes conductorshereinafter described, to certain of the motor elements of unit Ill.

Unit ll includes a-suitable frame, not shown, towhich are fastened frontwall ll, side walls It and I9, bottom wall 20, top wall 2|, a1 verticalpartition 22. Preferably, wall I! is arranged to be readily removed toallow access to the parts of unit ll described hereinafter. To sidewalls ll view taken on partition 22 and rear wall'23 being dividedbyvertical partition 24 to form two air ducts 25 and 26. At the top ofunit |9 side walls l8 and", partition 24 and top wall 2| are extended.to cooperate with plate 21 to form extensions of ducts 25 and 26..These extensions, as shown in Fig. I, serve to communicate ducts 25 and26 to the atmosphere, and when the window H is closed on them serve toprevent flow of air from the room intoducts 25 and 26 and vice versa.

The space of unit l9 between partitions 22 and front wall I1 is dividedinto an upper and a lower compartment by partition 28. In the uppercompartment is suitably supported from the frame, not shown, of unit l9a metal tank 29 which is insulated on its sides and bottom by insulation39. One or more rows of metallic conduits 3| extend through tank 29 andhave their ends welded or otherwise made integral with the top andbottom of tank 29. Top and bottom insulation 39 as well as partition 28and top wall 2| are perforated to allow passage of air from the lowercompartment through conduits 3| to enclosure l2.

Near the bottom of side wall I8 is an opening 32 through'which motoroperated fan 33 draws air from enclosure l2. Opening 32 is protected bygrille 34 and fan 33 is housed in the bottom of a conduit 35 which leadsair from opening 32 to the bottom of conduits 3|. Conduit 35 is definedby the members 36 and 31 and portions of'front wall l6, side wall l8 andpartition 28. Motor 38 of fan 33 is located in the space between member36 and side wall l9.

Member-36 has a hole cut thereinto allow com- 7 munication between duct35 and the lower compartment of unit l9. This hole is controlled by adamper 39 which in its full line position closes communication betweenduct 35 and the lower compartment of unit l9 and in its dotted lineposition closes the passage of air to ducts.3|. A

' damper 49 ishinged to top wall 2| and in its closed position closesthe outlets of conduits 3|. A damper 4| hinged to rear wall 23, ispositioned in duct 25. This damper in its closed position preventspassage of airthrough duct 25. Dampers '39, 49 and 4| are connected welink mechanism to be movable in unison by movement of knob 42-,

- the arrangement beingsuch that when damper 39 is in the full linepositiondampers 49 and 4| are in the-open position and when damper 39 isin the dotted line position dampers 49 and 4| are in the closedposition.

The edge of member 36 adjacent to the edge of damper 39 nearest sidewall I8 is bent to form a channel 43. Channel 43 is adapted to collectthe water condensed on the surface of conduits 3| and lead it throughpipe 44 to conduit 26.

A compressor 45 which is driven by belt 46 from motor 41 is in thebottom compartment of unit |9. The shaft of motor 41 has fan blades 48attached thereto which'serve to pass air from the bottom compartment ofunit l9 through-circular hole 49 cut in partition 22 into duct 26. v Ashaft 59 has its ends journalled in partition 22 and rear wall 23 and isdriven by belt 5| from the shaft of motor 41. Shaft 56 has athin disc 52pinned thereto. Disc 52 is of such size as to approach 26. If desired, apump may be used in place of disc 52 and the water dripped overcondenser 53 through a suitable pipe-(not shown). A hole. 54

is cut in partition 22 and offers communication between duct 25 and thebottom compartment of unit 19. The inlet of compressor 45 is connectedto a finned coil 55 located in tank 29. the outlet of compressor 45being connected to the inlet of condensor 53, the outlet of which isconnected towhich is vertically adjustable and supports amercury switch59 for oscillation relative thereto. Float 58'may have a projecting edgeor a pin fastened to it which is adapted to cooperate with theprojection on switch 59 to open the circuit controlled by switch 59 whenthe water in tank 29 has expanded the predetermined amount. By-

adjusting thesupport of switch 59 the switch may operate when all thewater or any proportion of it is frozen.

Cable l3, which for convenience will be considered as including twoconductors 69 and 6|, supplies the current for motors 38 and 41.Conductor 6| connects directly to one terminal of motor 48 and throughconductor 62 connects to one terminal of motor 38. Conductor 69 isconnected to one terminal of mercury switch 59 the other terminal ofwhich is connected to one of the terminals of mercury switch 63 byconductor 64. A conductor 65 connects the other terminal of mercuryswitch 63 to the other terminal of motor 41. A conductor 66 connects toconductor 64 and one terminal of ,settable motor control thermostat l5,the other terminal of which is connected through conductor 61 to theother terminal of motor 38. A switch 69 interruptsconductor 61 and aswitch 69 makes'it possible to connect conductors 69 and 61 so that whendesired motor- 38 may be manually controlled. Switches 68 and 69' arepositioned to be accessible from the outside of unit 19. A switch 19 isalso provided by means of which conductors 64 and 65 may be connectedthus making it possible to cut out mercury switch 63 when desired. Whenswitch 63 is in the circuit of motor 41, it is impossible for motor 41to operate when damper 39 is in the full line position.

Unit I9 is installed in enclosure |2 by placing it as shown in Fig.1,and connecting cable l3 to the house current line. Thermostat I5 is thenset to the temperature at which it-is desired to maintain enclosure l2and cable l6 connected to it. The size of tank 29 is such as to hold thevolume of ice necessary to maintain enclosure l2 at the predeterminedconditions during the period I of occupation of maximum outside weather.The

water required to form such ice is placed in tank 29 through the openingclosed by plate 51. The

support of switch 59 is adjusted so that float 58 will operate switch 59when the predetermined expansion of the water in tank 29 has takenplace. Compressor -45 condenser 53 and coil 55 are of such size andcapacity that said ice will be rated-load during aselected period ofoperation.

'-;; The selected period, as heretofore stated, may be twenty-four hoursor less.

Assuming now that we are at the beginning of what may be called thecharging period, that is, the period during which compressor 45operates, and that the charging period is 24 hours minustheoccupation"period.=-=-=Switches 68 and=69 are I closed, switch 19 isopened and knob 42 rotated 65 produced with compressor 45 operating atits thus closing the circuits of motors 38 and (also as to setcompressor 45 and fan 33 inoperation. With dampers 39, Ill and 4| sopositioned,-air will pass from duct 35 into the lower compartment ofunit I land from thence through hole '45 into duct 26 and theatmosphere. This current of air will carry away the ,heat generatedduring the compression of the refrigerant. The refrigerant after'beingcompressed by compressor 45 passes to condenser 53 wherein it is cooledand condensed. The cooled, compressed refrigerant is.

then expanded and circulated through coil 55 to remove the heat from thewater in tank 25 and eventually turn it to ice. As this goes on thevolume of the water will increase, thus raising float 58 with the resultthat when the water reaches the predeterminedlevel, float 58 will causeswitch 59 to open thereby shutting'down compressor 45.

Assuming now that a daily conditioning period of maximum weather isabout to commence. Knob 42 is rotated to carry damper 40 to the fullline position thereby causing mercury switch 63 to open the circuit ofmotor 41, damper ill to open the outlets of conduits 3| and damper M tomove to its open position. Fan 33 will now pass the air through conduits3|. The air in passing through conduits 3| will transfer heat to the icel in tank 29, and if the moisture content of the air is excessivecondensation take place on the walls of conduits 3 I, thus taking careof the moisture load. As soon as enough of the ice has melted to allowmercury switch 59 to move to the close circuit position, l5 minutes ofconditioning will usually be suflicient, switch 69 is opened and theconditioning of the air will from thence on be' controlled by thermostatl5. The flow of conditioning air through unit i0 is at all timessuflicient to cause a thorough intermixing of all the air in enclosurel2.

During the next char i g period unit I II will function as heretoforedescribed, but in addition disc 52 will spray the water collected due tothe dehumidiflcation of the conditioning air, against condenser 53.- Vlected is disposed of and the refrigerant cooled to a lower temperaturethan would be possible with air alone.

At the beginning of each charging period switch 69 isclosed so thatmercury switch 59 will also cause the opening of the circuit of motor 38when the water in tank 29 is frozen as desired.

When it is desired to charge the unit during the full 24 hours, mercuryswitch I0 is opened so that motor 41 will be solely under' control ofmer- 'cury switch 59. As before. switch as is ,closed at the end of eachconditioning period and opened .30 have been omitted and theconditioning air caused to pass around the outside of tank 29. Thisconstruction is somewhat cheaper and more satisfactory as allpossibility of condensation of moisture on the outside of unit III iseliminated.

While I have described two preferred embodiments of my invention indetail I do not wish to be limited thereto as it isobvious variousmodiflcations are possible within the scope. 'of the appended claims.

I claim, A A 1. In combination with an. enclosure subiect In this mannerthe water col-- to a variable weather load, an. air ,conditioninz unitadapted to condition said enclosureduring intermittent. periods ofsubstantial duration, said unit including means for cooling tying air,means for circulating a variable quan- ,5

tity of air from said enclosure into contact said cooling'anddehumidifying means and said enclosure, means for circulating air fromthe atmosphere through said unit and backtothe atmosphere, means forimparting the heatand-g moisture removed from said variable quantity ofair to said other circulated air, and means a1- lowing passage ofairfrom said enclosure. to said atmospheric air circulating means duringthe intervals between said intermittent conditioning 15 periods.

2. In an air conditioning .unit, a casing, partition means dividing saideasing into a, f m; and

a rear section, vertical partition means dividing said rear section intoa pair of conduits, means extending from the rear of said casingallowing air to enter one of said pair of conduits and allowing airtoexit from the other of said pair of conduits, further partition meansdividing said front section into compartments, holes in said firstpartition means allowing passage of air from said air inlet conduitthrough one of said compartments to said outlet conduit, holes in saidcasing allowing air to enter another of said compartments and exit fromthe top thereof, means 30 of the air flowing therethru, refrigerationappa- 35 ratus including a motor driven compressor, a condenser and aflnned expanded refrigerant circulating coil, said condenser beinglocated in said outlet conduit, said compressor being located in saidone compartment, and said coil being 40 located in said tank, means fordrawing air from said inlet conduit through said one compartment to saidoutlet conduit, means for collecting the water condensed in said othercompartment and leading said water to the bottom of said outlet '45conduit, and means for spraying said water onto the surface'of saidcondenser. j

3..In an air conditioning unit, a casing, partition means dividing saideasing into a front and a rear section, vertical partition meansdividing 50 said rear section into a pair of conduits, means extendingfrom the rear of said casing allowing air to enter one of said pair ofconduits and allowing air to exit from. the other of said pair ofconduits, further partition means dividing said 55 front 'section' intocompartments, holes in saidfirst partition means allowing passage of,air from said air inlet conduit through one of said compartments to saidoutlet conduit, holes insaid.

casing allowing air to enter another of said compartments and exit fromthe top thereof, means for passing a variable quantity of air throughsaid another compartment, heat exchange means including a heat absorbingmedium storage tank in said another compartment located in the path 5 ofthe air flowing therethru, refrigeration apparatus including a motordriven compressor, a condenser, and a flnned expanded refrigerantcirculating coil, said condenser being located'in said outlet conduit,said'compressor being located 7 in saidone compartment, and saidcoil'being lo.- cated in said tank, means for drawing air from saidinlet conduit through saidone compartment to said outlet conduit; adamper in said inlet conduit, a second damper pivoted to said casing 7passage of air to said heat exchange means, and

means for positioning said dampers as a unit.

4. In an air conditioning unit adapted to con-, dition air duringintermittent periods of substantial duration; a casing; partition meansdi viding said easing into a front and a rear section; verticalpartition means dividing said rear section into a pair of conduits;means extending from the rear of said casing allowing air to enter oneof said pair of conduits and allowing air to exit from the other of saidpair of conduits; further partition means dividing said'front sectioninto compartments; holes in said first partition means allowing passageof air from said air inlet conduit through one of said compartments tosaid outlet conduit; means for passing air from said inlet conduit tosaid air outlet conduit, means in said casing allowing air to enter thebottom of the other of said compartments and exit at the top thereof;means. for passing a variable quantity of air through-saidothercompartment; heat exchangemeansincluding a heat absorbing medium storagetank in said other, compartment located in the path of the air flowingtherethru; said tank being of a size to hold an amount of heat absorbingmedium capable of absorbing the heat required to be absorbed during theconditioning period of maximum weather as said medium undergoes a changeof phase and/or state; refrigeration apparatus including a motor drivencompressor in said' other compartment,-a condenser in said air outletcon-'- duit, and a finned expanded refrigerant circu-- lating coil insaid tank'; and float operated means in said' tank operable to shut downsaid compressor when the phase and/or state of the heat absorbing mediumin said tank is re-established.

5. In an air conditioning unit adapted to condition air duringintermittent periods of substantial duration; a casing; means dividingsaid casing into a pair of conduits and a pair of compartments; meansextending from said casing allowing air to enter one of said pair ofconduits and exit from the other conduit of said pair; means allowingpassage of air from said air inlet conduit to one of said compartmentsof said pair and from said one compartment to said air outlet conduit;means for passing air from said inlet conduit through said onecompartment to said outlet conduit; air inlet means at the bottom of theother compartment of said pair of compartments; air outlet means at thetop of said other compartment; means for passing a variable volume ofair through said other compartment; a heat absorbing medium storage tankin said other compartment positioned between the air inlet means and airoutlet means thereof,

said tank being of a size to hold an amount of heat absorbing mediumcapable of absorbing the heat required to be absorbed during the condi-,

"tioning of maximum weather as said medium undergoes a change of phaseand/or state; "refrigeration apparatus including 'a'compressor in saidone compartment. a condenser in said air outlet conduit, and a finnedexpanded refriger ant circulating coil insaid tank; float actuated meansin said tank adapted to shut down said.

' compressor-"when" said medium has aprred'eter mined heat absorbingcapacity; and means opadapted to condition the air in an enclosure, a

casing, means for directing a current of air through said casing, meansin said casing for cooling and dehumidifying said directed air, meansfor directing a second current of air through said casing, said secondmentioned air directing means including positionable means adapted inone position to allow said second current of air to be drawn fromoutside of said enclosure and in another position to allow said secondcurrent of air to be vdrawn'from said enclosure, and means in saidcasing for imparting the heat removed from said first current-of air tosaid second current of air at a substantFally constant rate.

7.,In a device of the kind described, a casing, a heat absorbing mediumin said casing, refrigerating apparatus for cooling said heat absorb-'ing medium, a plurality of air, passages thru said casing, means forforcing streams-of air thru said passages, means in said casing, movableto direct oneof said air streams thru said refrigerating apparatusadapted to convey heat from the refrigerating apparatus into said air orto direct said air into heat exchange contact with said heat absorbingmedium whereby they air iscooled and dehumidified and means forfrigerating apparatus.

8. In a device of the, kind described, a-casing, a heat absorbing mediumin said casing, refrigerating apparatus for cooling said heat absorbingmedium, including a condenser for there frigerant, means for forcingstreams of air thru said casing and for bringing one of said air streamsinto heat exchange relation with said heat absorbing medium, to cool anddehumidify the air, a liquid reservoir adjacent said condenser forreceiving water condensed from the air, means for conducting the watercondensed from the air to said reservoir, means for agitating said waterto cause it to contact with said condenser thereby assisting incondensing the and permit circulation of the other.

9. A self contained unit for conditioning air 5 in an enclosurecomprising a. casing, partition means in said casing separating saidcasing into two compartments, means for moving streams of air thrusaidcasing,,a damper in said partition movable to open one of saidcompartments to the passage of air therethru, and to close the other tocause the air to travel thru one of said compartments and to prevent itstravel thru the other, heat exchange means positioned in heat exchangerelation with one compartment for removing heat and moisture from theair passing thru the compartment, and means in the'other compartment forimparting some of the heat extracted from the air passing thru the firstcompartment to the air passing thru the secondcompartment.

., KEMPER .PENN BRAOIL.

